Stockton-on-Tees

Stockton-on-Tees' population increased by about 13,200 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed 190,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Stockton-on-Tees increased by 7.4%, from just over 178,000 to 192,000.

The addition of about 13,000 people means this area's population was the third-fastest-growing in the North East and increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Stockton-on-Tees was home to, on average, 6.7 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the North East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Stockton-on-Tees

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Stockton-on-Tees increased by two years, from 37 to 39 years.

This area had the third-lowest average age in the North East and had a similar age to the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 4,600 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 4,000.

About 13.0% of people in Stockton-on-Tees are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North East and Stockton-on-Tees by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

Stockton-on-Tees saw England's third-largest rise in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple.

In 2011, just under one in nine (11.0%) households in Stockton-on-Tees had an unmarried couple, compared with 7.7% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising just one person remained close to 27.8%.

England's largest increase in the proportion of households with an unmarried couple occurred in Gateshead (from 7.6% to 10.9%) followed by Barnsley (from 9.0% to 12.3%).

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Stockton-on-Tees increased by 3.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Stockton-on-Tees, the North East and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of self-employment

The percentage of Stockton-on-Tees residents that were self-employed increased from 4.9% to 6.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (53.3%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 51.9% in 2001. The percentage of Stockton-on-Tees residents that were unemployed increased from 5.0% to 5.7%.

The proportion of self-employed people increased faster here than in any other local authority district across the North East. But despite the improvement, Stockton-on-Tees remained less healthy than the national average 9.7% in England described their health as good in 2011).

The rate of self-employment in Stockton-on-Tees increased by 1.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Stockton-on-Tees, the North East and England that said they were self-employed, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Stockton-on-Tees

The percentage of Stockton-on-Tees residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 4.0% to 4.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 16 (6.1%) reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 6.7% in 2001. The percentage of Stockton-on-Tees residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 89.4% to 89.6%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 4.2% in 2001 to 4.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the North East

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

Stockton-on-Tees saw the North East's third-largest rise in the proportion of privately rented homes.

In 2011, just over one in eight (13.1%) households in Stockton-on-Tees rented privately, compared with 6.0% in 2001. The percentage of socially rented homes decreased from 21.4% to 17.2%.

Across the region, only Darlington (from 9.1% to 18.2%) and Middlesbrough (from 7.9% to 16.6%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of privately rented homes.

Every local authority area across the North East saw a rise in the proportion of privately rented homes, as the regional average grew from 7.2% to 13.7%.

Private renting in Stockton-on-Tees increased by 7.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Stockton-on-Tees, the North East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

Stockton-on-Tees saw the North East's third-largest fall in the proportion of married people.

In 2011, just under one in two (47.7%) people aged 16 and over in Stockton-on-Tees said they were married, compared with 53.2% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 27.8% to 33.2%.

Across the region, only Hartlepool (from 51.0% to 44.9%) and Newcastle upon Tyne (from 42.0% to 36.5%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of married people.

Every local authority area across the North East saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 50.8% to 45.8%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the North East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Stockton-on-Tees residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 10.4% to 6.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (79.9%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 66.9% in 2001. The percentage of Stockton-on-Tees residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22.7% to 13.8%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 12.0% in 2001 to 7.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Stockton-on-Tees decreased by 4.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Stockton-on-Tees, the North East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Stockton-on-Tees

In 2011, 3.5% of Stockton-on-Tees residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from from 1.9% in 2001.

Across the North East, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 1.6% to 2.9%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 94.6% of people in Stockton-on-Tees said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 97.2% in 2001. About 1.0% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.6% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.1% to 0.6%.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Stockton-on-Tees increased by 1.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North East and Stockton-on-Tees by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The proportion of households without children increased in Stockton-on-Tees, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the North East, except Darlington and Newcastle upon Tyne.

Every local authority area across the North East saw a rise in the proportion of households without children, as the regional average grew from 59.6% to 61.6%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the North East

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the North East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Stockton-on-Tees residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 2.6% to 2.8% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, 1.5% of reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 2.8% in 2001 to 3.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Stockton-on-Tees remained close to 2.8%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North East and Stockton-on-Tees by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Stockton-on-Tees

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Stockton-on-Tees was among those who said they had no religion, rising 12.4 points.

In 2011, 22.4% of respondents in Stockton-on-Tees gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 10.0% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the North East, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 11.0% to 23.4%, while across England the percentage went from 14.5% to 24.6%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Stockton-on-Tees, 68.2% said they were Christian, compared with 81.6% in 2001. About 0.3% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.2% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion decreased from 6.3% to 6.1%.

In Stockton-on-Tees, 6.1% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 6.3% in 2001. In North East, 6.1% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in Stockton-on-Tees increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, North East and Stockton-on-Tees by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Stockton-on-Tees working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 10.9% to 8.7% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.6%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.7% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North East (from 10.6% in 2001 to 8.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Stockton-on-Tees decreased by 2.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Stockton-on-Tees, the North East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links